Dry goods hanger



June 13, 1961 E. L. REIBOLD ET AL DRY GOODS HANGER Filed Dec. 22, 1959 IN V EN TORS:

BY/M JM ATT'YS 2,988,230 DRY GOODS HANGER Elmer L. Reibold, Park Ridge, and Conrad D. Mastrud, Jr., Evanston, Ill., assignors to E. L. Reibold Agency, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 861,349 7 Claims. (Cl. 211-48) This invention relates to a hanger for displaying dry goods in a store or showroom. The invention is especially adapted for displaying relatively bulky merchandise.

Relatively bulky and heavy merchandise such as rugs, bath mats, and the like have been displayed to the purchasing public in piles on floors and tables. It is often hard to suspend these items satisfactorily for display purposes. Their bulky, heavy nature causes them to slip and drop from hangers, and it is diificult to display them in an attractive manner for convenient examination. The available dry goods hangers are not well adapted for displaying such merchandise.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved dry goods hanger which is especially adapted for displaying such articles of merchandise, and other articles, in an attractive and pleasing manner and with the merchandise readily accessible.

Another object is to provide a compact, simple functional and ornamental dry goods hanger.

An additional object is to provide a hanger which is easily mounted in various locations, and in particular, may be mounted on the different styles of dry goods racks which are in use.

A further object is to provide a dry goods hanger constructed of heavy wire or the like, preferably in a onepiece construction which is both attractive and functional.

A particular object is to provide a hanger which serves to display two rugs or mats. The articles are prevented from becoming disarranged, and one article can be placed on the hanger or removed Without disturbing the other. The structure of the hanger is concealed in use, except for an attractive end which is presented to the viewer and the inner end of the hanger.

These and other objects, advantages, and functions of the invention will be apparent on reference to the specification and to the attached drawings, in which like parts are identified by like reference characters in each of the views, and in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the hanger mounted on a dry goods rack or the like;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged broken perspective view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical section thereof taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, and illustrating two rugs or the like supported and displayed thereon; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, illustrating another type of supporting element which may be employed.

The new dry goods hanger includes two holders for dry goods which are aligned for supporting two articles in side-by-side relation. Each holder includes two superimposed horizontal arms. One arm of each holder is adapted for spreading to facilitate hanging and removing dry goods, and the two arms frictionally engage the goods and tend to wedge or clamp one side of the goods between them. Means are provided on the hanger for supporting the movable holder arms and restricting their movement, to retain the goods in position on the hanger. The hanger may also advantageously include a supporting element which is mountable on a dry goods rack.

The drawings illustrate two preferred embodiments of the invention, a dry goods hanger generally indicated by the numeral 1 in FIGURES 1-3, supported fiom below,

States Patent and a hanger 2 illustrated in FIGURE 4, which is sup ported from above. Each construction includes a onepiece continuous rod 3 which is bent to form a pair of vertically arranged substantially parallel dry goods holders 4 and 5 and a vertically arranged crosspiece 6. One holder 4 includes a horizontal upper arm or rod 7 superimposed and spaced above a lower horizontal arm 9, and the remaining holder 5 includes a horizontal upper arm 8 superimposed and spaced above a lower horizontal arm 10. The upper arms 7 and 8 are in one horizontal plane, and the lower arms 9 and 10 are in a lower horizontal plane. The arms 7 and 9 of the one holder 4 are joined at one end by a vertical reverse bend 11, and the arms 8 and 10 of the remaining holder 5 are likewise joined at one end by a vertical reverse bend 12. The holders are thus U-shaped members whose arms extend horizontally.

The crosspiece 6 is in the form of an inverted U, and it includes a reverse bend 6a joined to a pair of depending legs 13 and 14. The crosspiece is joined at its base with the extremities of the lower arms 9 and 10, at the opposite ends to the reverse bends 11 and 12 of the holders. The legs 13 and 14 of the crosspiece are joined to the lower arms 9 and 10 by right angle bends 13 and 14', respectively. In the preferred construction, the crosspiece 6 acts to space the holders 4 and 5 apart horizontally in aligned relation of the parts. Fixed alignment and spacing is further secured by cross bars 15 and 16 welded, brazed or otherwise connected to the bases of the lower arms 9 and 10, which are preferably parallel, at spaced intervals from the crosspiece 6.

The upper arms 7 and 8 remain free at their ends opposite to the reverse bends 11 and 12, for hanging dry goods thereon in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3, Where the goods are shown in phantom and indicated by the numeral 17, and for readily removing the goods therefrom, easily and without interference with the goods on the companion holder. In each operation, an upper arm 7 (or 8) is normally raised and moved outwardly in re lation to the lower arm 9 (or 10) by grasping a knob 22 (or 23) on the free end of the upper arm. After hanging or removing the goods, the arms are returned to normal position.

The upper arms 7 and 8 are normally supported on a transverse bracket 18 secured to the inverted U-shaped crosspiece 6 intermediate its ends, as by welding, brazing or other fastening means. The upper arms of the holders are supported on the base 19 of the bracket and restricted from lateral movement by upstanding bracket sides 20 and 21 integral with the opposite ends of the base. The bracket thus serves to support the upper arms 7 and 8 containing dry goods draped thereover, horizontally and in spaced parallel relation above the respective lower arms 9 and 10, so that the goods do not tend to slide off the upper arms or towards one end of the hanger. Enlarged spherical knobs 22 and 23 are secured at the extremities of the upper arms 7 and 8, to assist in holding the arms on the bracket and at the same time, enhance their appearance. The bracket sides 20 and 21 cooperate with the base 19 and the knobs 22 and 23 to hold the upper arms in the bracket 18. The upper arms are simply lifted above the bracket 18 and moved to one side for hanging or removing the merchandise.

The holders 4 and 5 are preferably spaced apart a distance of about one-half inch or greater, and the arms of each holder are spaced a like distance, for accommodating the bulky articles. The upper arms 7 and 8 in the embodiment illustrated diverge somewhat, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, but this is not essential. FIGURE 3 also illustrates the manner in which the article 17 is frictionally' engaged by the surfaces of the arms 7-10, and the manner in which the inner side 24 is wedged between an upper arm 7 or 8 and a lower arm 9 or 10. The inner side 24 of the article bears on the inner side of the upper arm and the outer side of the lower arm. Bulky articles are secured in a manner which makes it ditficult to dislodge them, so that they remain in position and present a pleasing appearance after repeated examinations and handlings. It will also be noted that the articles cover and obscure all of the structure except the ends of the hanger.

The hanger is preferably constructed of heavy wire which is stiff or rigid yet sufiiciently fiexible and resilient to function in the described manner. The wire is provided with a decorative finish, such as a bronze or aluminum finish. Any material of construction for structural members and the like may be employed, so long as it has the necessary-strength, flexibility, and resiliency.

A supporting element-is connected to the lower arms 9 and for conveniently placing the hanger on a display rack and removing it when desired. In the construction of FIGURES 1-3, the hanger is supported from below'by a supporting element25 constructed of a single wire rod of the type employed in the holders, which is engageable'in a pair of superimposed spaced hanger mounts 26. The supporting element includes an acute angle bend 27 providing a horizontal rod segment 28 and an inclined rod segment 29. The horizontal segment is welded or otherwise secured to the base of the cross bars 15 and716 spanning the holders 4 and 5, and the supporting element extends longitudinally of the hanger.

The supporting element terminates in depending coaxial legs 30a and 30b-formed by-angle bends in the element at its opposite ends. These legs are pivotally received in openings 31 of horizontal flanges 3 2 on the hanger mounts 26. The hanger mounts are constructed as metal angles, and the vertical mounting flanges 26' are secured by screws, rivets or other fastening means to the side or wall 33 of a display rack. Other supporting and connecting means may be used, on rectilinear, circular, or other shaped racks. A group of hangers is placed along a rack, and the merchandise may be examined by swinging thehangers around the axis of the supporting element legs 30a and 30b.

The hangers-are also adapted for other methods of display and display racks. FIGURE 4 illustrates another embodiment which is designed for support from above, such as by a'rod in a display rack. The holders 4 and 5 are suspended from above by means of a supporting element 34 extending between the holders and connected to the lower cross bars 15 and 16. The supporting element is constructed-of two wire rods 35 and 36 welded together at the center, and one rod 35 extends upwardly therefrom and is bent to form a hook 37 which hangs on the rod of the display rack. The ends of the supporting element rods 35 and 36 are bent to provide depending legs 38 and 39, which are welded or otherwise fixed to the cross bars 16 and 15, respectively.

The invention thus constitutes a very useful and attractive dry goods hanger which is especially suitable for holding and displaying bulky and heavy articles of merchandise. The hanger serves to display such articles in a pleasing manner for convenient access. At the same time, the construction is simple and economical, so that the hangers can be used in large quantity. The hanger occupies very little space and may be moved around at will and adapted for a variety of uses.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a dry goods hanger which comprises a pair of dry goods holders, each holder comprising an upper horizontal arm superimposed and spaced above a lower horizontal arm, said arms in each holder being flexibly joined together at one end, means connecting said holders together in fixed relation, means for spreading the upper arm of each said holder from the lower arm opposite the joined end, to facilitate hanging dry goods thereon, and bracket means fixed on the lower arms of said holders opposite said joined ends, supporting said upper arms and restricting their lateral movement.

2. In a dry goods hanger which comprises a pair of dry goods holders spaced apart horizontally, each holder comprising an upper horizontal arm superimposed and spaced above a lower horizontal arm, said arms in each holder being flexibly joined together at one end by a reverse bend, means connecting said holders together in fixed relation, means for spreading the upper arm of each said holder from the lower arm opposite the joined end, to facilitate hanging dry goods thereon, and bracket means fixed on the lower arms of said holders opposite said joined ends, supporting said upper arms and restricting their lateral movement.

3. A hanger as defined in claim 1 including a supporting element connected'to said lower arms and mountable on a dry goods rack.

4. A dry goods hanger which comprises: a stiff flexible rod including a pair of dry goods holders, each having an upper horizontal arm superimposed above a lower horizontal arm, a reverse bend joining the arms in each holder, two vertically arranged legs each joined by an angular bend to an arm in one holder, at the end opposite to said reverse bend, the remaining arms being free at said opposite end, and a second reverse bend joining the extremities of said legs and aligning said legs and arms joined thereto; and means on said legs supporting said remaining arms and restricting their lateral movement.

5. A dry goods hanger which comprises: a stiif flexible wire rod including a pair of dry goods holders, each having an upper horizontal arm superimposed and spaced above a lower horizontal arm, a reverse bend joining the arms in each holder, and, a vertically arranged inverted U-shaped crosspiece joined at the base thereof with the extremities of the lower arms of said holders, said lower arms being joined by angular bends to the respective legs of said cross piece; additional means connecting said lower arms together in fixed aligned parallel relation and spacing them apart horizontally; and bracket means on said crosspiece supporting the upper arms of said holders and restricting their lateral movement.

6. A hanger as defined in claim 4 including a supporting element connected to said arms joined to said legs, and mountable on a dry goods rack.

7. A hanger as defined in claim 5 including a supporting element connected to said lower arms, and mountable on a dry goods rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 409,777 Duhamel Aug. 27, 1889 1,899,942 Claflin Mar. 7, 1933 2,065,499 Ballin Dec. 29-, 1936 2,289,042 Robertson July 7, 1942 2,764,296 Breen Sept. 25, 1956 

